Trash container and bag liner sorter

ABSTRACT

A waste container has two dividers which are adjustably mounted in the interior of the container to compartmentalize the interior for receiving segregated types of trash. Guides are provided to adjust the angle of orientation of each divider, while a detachable coupling is provided in the bottom of the container for optionally removing the dividers and allowing for pivotal movement thereof to adjust the angular orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to trash containers and, morespecifically, to a novel flexible compartmentalized trash container forsorting and storing different types of recyclable waste materials suchas cans, glass and other waste materials typically found in households.Sorting waste materials into recyclable and non-recyclable containers atthe source of the waste generation point should increase compliance withexisting and expected new government regulations. The household is asignificant source of potential recyclable materials which this patentaddresses.

2. Description of the Related Art

Historically, landfills and burning methods have been used to dispose ofmost trash, waste and other garbage. The amount of waste, scarcelandfills sites, scarce resources and clean air regulations haveresulted in changes in government policies towards disposal of waste.Most studies and generally available information indicate that a keystumbling block to gaining full public support for new recyclingregulations is not from public apathy, but the current limitations onseparating the various materials. Most households and businesses havelimited floorspace to accommodate more bulky or multiple conventionaltrash containers.

Typically, smaller waste containers, which are lined with plastic bags,are used to store daily accumulations of trash. The bags are routinelyremoved from the containers and placed in larger containers in thegarage or other storage locations while waiting to be collected bymunicipal or private trash vehicles. The trash vehicles transport theindividually collected trash to a disposal site. In many municipalitiesacross the United States regulations are being enacted requiring eachhousehold or business to separate various types of waste, trash andgarbage materials. These programs are directed at preventing recyclablematerials such as glass, cans, plastic and paper from being sent tolandfills or incinerators. In order to comply with the trash materialseparation requirements, businesses and households use individualcontainers for each recyclable item. This is extremely inconvenient andhas resulted in very slow public acceptance of the new regulations.Higher levels of acceptance will not occur until the sorting of thematerials becomes more convenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a waste container whichallows the user the flexibility to vary the size of each section of acompartmentalized waste container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the user theflexibility of using a container as a conventional container by removingseparator panels or inserting panels for use as a compartmentalizedcontainer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide convenient andcost effective stacking of containers for shipment and warehousestorage, wherein the bottom of each container is inserted into the topof another container. The separators panels and lids are stored andshipped as separate items inside the containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the user with aliner which may be used to line either a compartmentalized orconventional waste container. This liner provides side stiffeners to actas pockets to assist in separating various classifications of trashmaterials when used in conjunction with either type container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the user with aconvenient means of separating the liner pockets into completelyseparate bags which contain unique classes of trash materials or toleave the liner intact as a single unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combinationsystem of specialized waste container and a container liner whichmaximizes the potential for recycling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste container according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention with two separator panels:

FIG. 2 is a top view of a bump guide embodiment of the waste container,showing the bump guides for the separator panels which are molded orattached to both the front and back walls of the container;

FIG. 3 is a cut away front view of the bump guide version wastecontainer;

FIG. 4 is a cut away side view of the bump guide version wastecontainer;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a channel guide version of the waste containerwith the channel guides molded or attached to both the front and backwalls of each container;

FIG. 6 is a cut away front view of the FIG. 5 channel guide versionwaste container;

FIG. 7 is a cut away side view of the FIG. 5 channel guide version wastecontainer;

FIG. 8 is a stacked view of plural waste containers;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a separator panel according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the separator panel of FIG. 9:

FIG. 11 is the top view of a free swinging top container lid used in thecontainer according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the lid of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a partially unrolled series of contiguoustrash bag liners; and

FIG. 14 illustrates how the user who only has a traditional trashcontainer without separator panels can still use the bags for sortingtrash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a waste container is generally referred to by thenumeral 20 and includes a bottom 22, side walls 24, 26, 28 and 30extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating in an open top. Aninterior of the waste container 20 is defined by the side walls 24, 26,28, 30 and the bottom 22. The interior is compartmentalized by at leastone divider, such as dividers 32 and 34, each divider being movably andadjustably mounted in the interior space formed by the side walls andbottom.

The container is made of molded plastic or rubber material and ispreferably rectangular in shape so that the elongated side walls 24 and28 taper slightly from top to bottom. The dividers are used selectivelyto establish separate sections for sorting recyclable material accordingto waste material classifications. The panels may be positioned in thecontainer by sliding them vertically downwardly through a series ofchannels provided along an inner surface of the opposed side walls ofthe container, or adjusting the panels between a series of protrusions.In either embodiment, the panels may be pivotally mounted at the bottomof the container with a snap-in hinge or hinges, as will be described ingreater detail below.

Referring to FIG. 2, the waste container 20 of the protrusion embodimentis illustrated as having a series of paired protrusions formed on innersurfaces of the two opposed side walls 24 and 28. The paired series ofprotrusions provide guide means for positionally fixing an angle ororientation with respect to each divider. Given that the preferredmaterial is flexible or resilient, the side walls can be pushed radiallyoutwardly until the desired angle of orientation is achieved, whereuponthe respective divider will rest between two adjacent protrusions 36 ofthe series.

A pivotal connection is provided at the bottom 22 so that each panel maybe detachably coupled within the interior. Preferably, a hinge 38includes a first portion 38a is integrally molded with the bottom 8a andextends upwardly therefrom which is snap-fitted into a correspondingopening in the bottom of each divider. The opening constitutes acomplementary second portion of the hinges. In one embodiment, a singlepair of hinges 38 is provided medially on the bottom 22, while in theanother embodiment, it is possible to provide two pairs of hinges (FIG.6) which are equidistantly spaced from the end walls 26 and 30. For eachhinge 38, the first portion 38a is a U-shaped clip having a centralopening 38b (FIG. 3) through which the lower ends of the dividers areinserted.

Referring to FIG. 4, a lip 40 surrounds the top opening of thecontainer, adds structural rigidity to the container. A pair of holes 42are provided in the opposite end walls 26 and 30 receive mountingpintles 44 and 46 of a lid 48 (see FIG. 11). The lid covers the openingof the container.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment where a series ofpaired slots 50 are provided instead of the protrusions 36. Each slot 50is formed by a pair of adjacent guides 52 which are preferablyintegrally molded to the opposite side walls 24 and 28. In theembodiment using the guides, it is preferable to provide two hinges 38since the range of angular movement of the dividers 32 and 34 isrestricted by the length of guides 52.

FIG. 8 illustrates how the tapered side walls allows containers to bestacked on top of one another for shipment and warehouse storage, withthe lids removed. As previously mentioned, the container lip providesstrength to the container opening and also provides a basis forfrictional attachment of the container liners.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate one of the dividers, such as dividers 32.Preferably, two dividers are provided for each container, although thedividers may be removed so as to provide a basic rectangular trashcontainer. Each divider has a handle 54 which is formed by an openingprovided in an upper portion of the separator panel. The handle 54enables one to grasp the divider for the insertion into the container tothus couple and uncouple the panel from its snap-fit hinge at the bottomof the container. A cut away portion 56 is provided to enable mountingof the lid on top of the container. A pair of holes 58 and 60 areprovided at the bottom of the divider 32 for receiving the hingeportions 8a. Thus, each hinge detachable coupling means constitutes apair of hinges 38 arranged transversely on the bottom of the container.When more than one pair of hinges is required, as in FIG. 6, two pairsof hinges are needed, with each pair being spaced longitudinally alongthe bottom.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a partially unrolled series of contiguoustrash bag liners, with the numeral 60 denoting a roll, and the numerals62, 64 and 66 denoting contiguous trash bag liners. Each bag isseparated by the next by a heat seal 68 and 70, and a row ofperforations 72 and 74. The perforations 72 and 74 provide score linesfor tearing and separating the bags. Each bag 62, 64 and 66 is providedwith an opening 62A, 64A and 66A for receiving trash. Preferably, threebags are unrolled and detached from the roll and placed within thecontainer 20 in either an attached-together state, or a separated state.When the dividers are removed, or when the user has a conventionalcontainer, the bags may be inserted into the container in an attachedstate so that segregation of the trash can be achieved. After filling,the bags can be removed and separated along the perforations.

In FIG. 13, since the heat seals 68 and 70 are bifurcated by the scorelines 72 and 74, tearing along the score lines will leave half a heatseal on each side, thereby maintaining the integrity of the bag.

In FIG. 14, an embodiment which is preferred for divider-list useincludes an addition to the heat seals 68 and 70, a stiffener 76 whichis heat sealed along each seam. The stiffener can be any suitablematerial which is light-weight and inexpensive, such as a strip ofplastic. The strips are preferably in a pair with one of the pair oneach side of the score line.

The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparentfrom the detailed specification and thus, it is intended by the appendedclaims to cover all such features and advantages of the waste containerwhich fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further,since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art based upon the disclosure herein, it is not desiredto limit the invention to the exact construction and operationillustrated and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope and the spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A household waste container comprising:a bottom;two opposite side walls and two opposite end walls extending upwardlyfrom the bottom and terminating in an open top, the bottom, two sidewalls and two end walls forming an interior space; at least one dividerremovably and adjustably mounted in the interior space; guide meansdisposed in the interior space for positionally fixing an angle oforientation with respect to each at least one divider; and detachablecoupling means, disposed within the interior, for detachably couplingeach at least one divider within the interior, wherein the detachablecoupling means comprises at least one hinge having a first portionformed on the bottom of the container and a complementary second portionformed on the at least one divider.
 2. A waste container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a series of pairedprotrusions formed along the opposite side walls on inner surfacesthereof.
 3. A waste container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each guidecomprises a pair of spaced apart tracks formed along the opposite sidewalls near the top of the container.
 4. A waste container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the pivotal coupling means comprises a hinge disposedon the bottom of the container and coupling to a bottom of each at leastone divider.
 5. A waste container as claimed in claim 4, wherein thehinge includes a clip which snap-fits into openings provided in thebottom of each at least one divider.
 6. A waste container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the at least one divider comprises two dividers havinga common pivotal connection at the bottom of the container through thedetachable coupling means.
 7. A waste container as claimed in claim 1,wherein the at least one divider comprises two dividers having separatepivotal connections at points equidistantly spaced longitudinally on thebottom of the container.
 8. A waste container as claimed in claim 1,further comprising a lid pivotally connected to an upper portion of thetwo opposite side walls and covering the open top of the container.
 9. Awaste container as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a removableand throw-away trash bag disposed in each of the plurality ofcompartments.
 10. A waste container as claimed in claim 8, wherein theat least one divider has a cut away portion which facilitates pivotalmovement of the lid.
 11. A waste container as claimed in claim 1,wherein the at least one divider compartmentalizes the interior space byforming a plurality of compartments.
 12. A waste container as claimed inclaim 11, wherein each trash bag is frangibly connected to each otheralong an adjacent edge.
 13. A waste container as claimed in claim 1,wherein the first portion the at least one hinge is a U-shaped cliphaving a central opening through which a lower end of the at least onedivider is inserted, and the second portion of the at least hinge is anopening formed in the lower end of the at least one divider.
 14. A wastecontainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second portionsof the at least one hinge are snap-fitted together.